Word: khost
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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When the Soviets lifted a rebel siege of the strategically placed town of Khost at the end of December, some Western diplomatic observers and Pakistani analysts in Islamabad thought that would give them a pretext to declare victory in the eight-year-old war and begin pulling out. But the Soviets have so far refused to fix a firm timetable for their withdrawal. The rebels, meanwhile, seemed determined to keep up the pressure, as they demonstrated late last week at the funeral of Abdul Ghaffar Khan, a onetime disciple of Mahatma Gandhi and in later years an anti-mujahedin leftist...
...forcing Kabul to airlift up to 50 tons of food a night before rebel antiaircraft fire halted the flights. To smash the blockade, Soviet and Afghan troops launched a major assault on Dec. 19. Sources said the attackers quickly punched through the Sataw Kandaw Pass on the twisting Gardez-Khost road. But the rebels soon dug in. With 6,000 to 10,000 guerrillas deployed along the road, the insurgents claimed to have halted the drive before it could pick up speed...
Afghan officials put a brave face on the fighting even while issuing contradictory statements. Sulayman Laeq, Minister for Tribal Affairs and Nationalities, reported early last week that the "security of the Gardez- Khost highway has now been ensured" and "traffic is now normal." Two days later, however, Radio Kabul said that "fierce" and "heavy" fighting was raging on the highway. On New Year's Eve, the station reported victory again and said that bunting-clad relief trucks were rolling into Khost...
...week's end Afghan government troops, backed by Soviet forces, penetrated the Khost blockade and Pentagon officials expected a second column to follow shortly. According to one line of Pentagon speculation, the Soviets "may be creating the circumstances to declare victory and go home." But even if they do precisely that, the rebels seem determined to maintain their supply routes from Pakistan and to secure enough weapons to continue fighting whatever Communist government the Soviets leave behind. The rebels may end their siege and melt into the rugged countryside around Khost, but they are virtually certain to return...
...worst rioting in its occupied territories in 20 years, the army dispenses quick justice in military courts and beefs up its patrols. -- Gulf nations meet to coordinate defense in the widening tanker war. -- Soviet and Afghan troops mount a desperate effort to save the strategic town of Khost from a rebel siege. -- Northern Ireland ends another year of sectarian strife...